The homecoming queen usually wins the crown based on her popularity but Katie Gassman had the opportunity to make the honor something more.
She felt the crown should go to a true queen.
One who exudes strength, determination and faces hardship with a smile on her face. That’s why she decided to share the crown with 18-year-old Chelsey Sloan.
Sloan has Down syndrome and also suffers from arthritis and kidney disease.
Gassman said she wanted to share the crown because she was inspired by everything Sloan has been through.
“She is always just uplifting everybody, always smiling, coming into the school hugging everybody,” Gassman told KCCI Des Moines. “I just believe that’s royalty in my eyes, so I wanted to let her share the experience with me.”
The students at Wayne Community Schools in Corydon, Iowa voted for Gassman as homecoming queen.
When the winner was announced Gassman handed Melanie Halferty a note.
Halferty, a teacher in the district, read the note which gave her instructions on what to do if Gassman was elected as queen.
Here’s what the note said:
“I am honored to have been voted as this year’s homecoming queen, but tonight I would like to share my crown with a girl who always has a smile on her face and has overcome so many hardships. And that person is Miss Chelsea Sloan.”
Sloan was overjoyed to be considered for such an honor.
“We didn’t expect that in the first place, but when Katie gave her the crown, (Chelsea) was just so excited,” Chelsea’s mother, Angie Sloan told Des Moines Register. “She said to me, ‘Oh my gosh, mom. I’m queen. I’m queen!'”
After the announcement, Gassman walked over to Sloan and placed the crown on her head.
“It kind of makes you forget about all that bad stuff, and she can just focus on being a normal teen for a while,” Angie Sloan said. “It’s just such an awesome thing to share with her. It’s life-changing.”
Angie Sloan posted a video of her daughter’s crowning where it ended up being shared more than 2,000 times.
“Tonight I witnessed true friendship, true kindness, and true selflessness. As many of you know, Chelsea was voted onto homecoming court. She was ecstatic about this. Ever since she found out, she’s been counting down the days, telling EVERYONE, including doctors, therapists, receptionists, seriously, EVERYONE, she talked to the news,” Angie Sloan wrote on Facebook.
She said that she was just excited to see her daughter go to prom, in general, let alone with the homecoming crown.
“I was so excited because she doesn’t usually get to worked up about these types of things. We went dress shopping, did her hair, and nails, and she even decided wearing a little make-up would be okay,” Angie Sloan said. “All of these things made this mama so happy, just getting to experience these normal everyday things that most people take for granted. Unbeknownst to me, the real pride and joy would come later.”
Angie Sloan says she’s overjoyed to live in a community where people are so loving and value kindness.
“The students at Wayne Community Schools have proven time and time again that they have kindness and integrity that is so easily forgotten in this day and age. I am so humbled by the love and compassion that they have always shown Chelsea,” she wrote.
You see can see Sloan receive her crown in the video below.
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